She nodded and took her last bite of the spinach pie, crunching down on the flaky phyllo pastry. “But I’ve got plans for us tonight that have nothing to do with Uncle Buckley, the witch of the building, or Beckett Cosmetics deals on the brink.”

His grimace transformed immediately into a cocky smile. “Does it involve getting naked?”

“Eventually,” she said with a laugh. “But first you have to experience my favorite routine in the world. It’s perfect for after a shit day.”

“Okay,” he said with an exaggerated sigh. “I’m game. What do I need to do?”

Chelle walked over to the couch and sat down. “Come sit down and put your head on my lap.”

He waggled his eyebrows at her like some kind of cartoon playboy as he joined her in the living room. “I like where this is going.”

Yeah, she kind of wished she’d come up with a different plan when he’d walked into the apartment looking like he’d taken on the entire world. However, she knew that this was what the guy who fixed everything for everyone else really needed.

“Keep your clothes on, Beckett.”

He pouted, but he did what he was told, stretching out on the couch so his feet were at one end and his head was lying on her thighs. The dogs, obviously sensing a prime napping opportunity, jumped up and tucked themselves between the side of Nash’s legs and the back of the couch.

After he had settled in, she used the home app on her phone to dim the lights and start the gas fireplace. Then she opened up her audiobook app and hit play on her favorite comfort read, Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris. Yep, the best thing for a rough day was a little old school vampire romance. The book’s opening lines came through the Bluetooth surround sound speakers.

“We’re gonna listen to a book?” he asked, sounding like she’d just told him they were going to apply leeches to their bodies and let them drink them both dry.

“Yep,” she said, not bothering to elaborate. “Now close your eyes.”

When he did, she started running her fingers through his hair, slow and steady.

It didn’t happen right away, but by the time Sookie started up her first conversation with vampire Bill during her waitressing shift at Merlotte’s, the tension had ebbed out of Nash’s shoulders. They sat there in silence for close to an hour, listening to the telepathic waitress’s and vampire’s story. It was so comfortable and so right that she sank back against the couch, her fingers tangled in his hair, even though she’d stopped dragging them through the strands and closed her eyes, too, soaking in the moment of absolute, perfect ease. Normally, it was just her and the pugs doing this, and it had always been magnificent. But with Nash? It was just better.